Text messaging has transcended personal conversations to become a vital tool in business communications. Whether you’re a small business owner or part of a large corporation, understanding the nuances of business texting can transform your approach to customer service, marketing, and internal communication.

Let’s take a look at what business texting is and how it can be used to enhance customer interactions, streamline communications, and boost operational efficiency.

Table of Contents

• What is business text messaging?
• Leveraging text messaging for different business goals
• The benefits of SMS for businesses
• Security and compliance in business text messaging
• Maximizing engagement through text messaging
• Ensuring success with business text messaging
• Business texting best practices
• Real-world use cases
• The future of business text messaging
• Getting started with text messaging for businesses
  

What is business text messaging?

Business text messaging, including both SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), is an essential component of modern communication strategies for businesses. It allows businesses to send and receive text messages, images, videos, and audio to and from employees, partners, and customers efficiently. 

Businesses use SMS and MMS to send timely promotions, updates, and alerts to customers, enhancing engagement and customer service. They can also be used to facilitate instant communication among team members, support task management, and improve coordination.

By integrating SMS and MMS into their communication strategies, businesses can enhance their operational efficiency, cultivate stronger customer relationships, and maintain a dynamic, connected workforce.

Leveraging text messaging for different business goals

Marketing

Businesses text timely offers, discounts, and event alerts directly to customers’ phones, ensuring high visibility and engagement rates. This direct communication channel allows for quick dissemination of key marketing messages, increasing sales opportunities.

Customer service

Text messaging enhances customer service by providing a quick and convenient communication channel for support queries. Customers can receive instant responses to inquiries, appointment reminders, or updates on service status, improving satisfaction and reducing call center volumes.

Human resources

For internal team communication, text messaging supports the fast dissemination of critical information, urgent alerts, or last-minute changes, ensuring that all team members are informed promptly, regardless of their location. This immediacy can significantly improve operational efficiency and team coordination.

The benefits of SMS for businesses

As a direct and widely accessible communication tool, SMS offers businesses many benefits, including:

• High click-through rates: Most businesses have an average SMS marketing click-through rate between 21 and 35%
• Instant delivery: Messages are delivered almost instantly, allowing for timely communication that is crucial in customer service or urgent updates.
• Cost-effective: Compared to many other marketing platforms, SMS is relatively inexpensive starting at $39 per month for 500 SMS messages and a 10-digit long code number, providing a high return on investment.
• Wide reach: Nearly everyone has access to a mobile phone capable of receiving an SMS, making it a universal tool to reach a broad audience.
• Personalization: SMS can be easily personalized for individual recipients, which enhances the customer experience and fosters loyalty.
• Integration capabilities: SMS can integrate with other marketing strategies and technology platforms, enhancing overall communication effectiveness.

Security and compliance in business text messaging

Business messaging platforms implement several security measures to protect user data, including encryption, secure data storage, and regular security audits. These practices ensure that messages and customer information are safeguarded against unauthorized access and breaches.

Businesses using SMS or MMS services must comply with data privacy laws and regulations such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which mandates obtaining consent before sending promotional messages and maintaining records of this consent.

There are 9 essential components of keeping your business texts compliant:

1. Register or verify your number: This establishes credibility, builds customer trust, and prevents your texts from being flagged as spam.
2. Get consent: Getting explicit, written consent from subscribers allows you to send promotional, informational, and conversational texts. 
3. Set expectations: Send a consent confirmation text as soon as possible. Then, send a welcome message that clearly communicates what type of messages your subscribers will receive.
4. Make getting help simple: Provide easy support options within your text messages. This can be contact information or the ability to reply “HELP” to receive assistance.
5. Make opting out easy: Give users a simple way to opt out of receiving texts within your messages, like replying with “STOP.” Always send an opt-out confirmation text. 
6. Text at the right time: In the United States, you can send business texts between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. However, some states have their own regulations, so be sure to research this before sending texts.
7. Text appropriate amounts: Many states have rules regarding how many texts you can send in a given period of time. 
8. Don’t send prohibited content: In the U.S., you cannot send content regarding sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco, spam, misleading messages, depictions of violence, profanity, cannabis, and endorsement of illegal drugs. Doing so may lead to your business being banned from texting.
9. Research local regulations: Different states have different business texting rules. Research the states relevant to you before sending any messages.

Maximizing engagement through text messaging

71% of consumers want businesses to deliver personalized experiences—text messaging is a great way to achieve this. To personalize texts effectively, businesses should capture relevant user information, such as purchase history, preferences, and previous interactions. This can be achieved through integration with CRM systems or by analyzing interaction patterns. 

By using this data, businesses can tailor messages to meet individual needs and interests, increasing relevance and response rates. Personalized messages can include specific product recommendations, reminders based on previous purchases, or targeted promotions, all aimed at boosting customer loyalty and conversion rates.

Rich messaging features

MMS allows businesses to send multimedia content, including images, videos, and audio, enhancing the communication experience and making messages more engaging and informative. This is particularly useful for marketing campaigns that require visual content, instructional materials that benefit from demonstrations, or customer support scenarios where visual troubleshooting can help clarify solutions. By incorporating rich media, businesses can deliver more impactful and memorable messages, which can lead to higher engagement and improved customer retention.

AI-enhanced messaging

AI tools, like SimpleTexting’s AI Assist, can improve SMS campaign effectiveness by creating valuable, actionable, and brand-consistent messages. With just a simple prompt, AI Assist can generate five original text message ideas, helping both new and seasoned marketers optimize their messaging strategies, increase click-through rates, and improve ROI. In addition to being an AI text message generator, you can also use our tool to refine one-to-one messages to individual contacts from your Inbox. Use it to adjus

Business texting best practices

To maximize the potential of your business texting efforts, follow these best practices:

Obtain consent and respect opt-outs

Always get explicit consent from recipients before sending them texts, and make it easy for recipients to opt out of receiving further communications. This not only complies with legal requirements but also respects customer preferences and builds trust.

Be clear and concise

SMS has limited character space, so ensure your messages are straightforward and concise. Every message should offer something valuable, whether it’s a special offer, an important update, or useful information. Make sure it’s relevant to the recipient.

Personalize your messages

Use existing customer data to personalize your text messages. Addressing recipients by name and tailoring content to their preferences or past behaviors can significantly increase engagement.

Time messages appropriately

Send texts during reasonable hours. Avoid early mornings, late nights, or other times when messages might be illegal or considered intrusive. Keep time zones and customer preferences in mind.

Include a clear call to action

Always include a specific call to action in your texts. Whether it’s visiting a website, calling a number, or using a promo code, direct actions can enhance customer engagement and help you measure text campaign effectiveness.

Real-world use cases

Business texting can be used across industries in many ways, including:

• Appointment reminders
• Survey and feedback collection
• Marketing promotions
• Payment alerts
• Event coordination
• Internal communication
• Real-time updates
• Customer service
• And more!

For example, Bella Santė, a day med spa in Boston, used SimpleTexting’s business texting services for marketing campaigns. They found that business texting is an easy way to have more personalized relationships with their customers. In just a few months, Bella Santė’s marketing subscriber list grew to over 200 people.

Another company, Pallas Seeds, implemented SimpleTexting’s business texting to deliver prompt, important updates about their fields and seeds. They discovered that texting is a convenient way to keep their customers informed, as they can check their texts at times that work for them, which saves Pallas Seeds from having to call each customer individually. This company says they’ve noticed increased trust between them and their customers since beginning to use business texting.

The future of business text messaging

Like most technology, business text messaging is constantly evolving. In recent years, the integration of AI and machine learning has automated text messaging, creating context-aware responses and enhanced personalization. 

In the future, business texting is poised to include more advanced technologies, such as more sophisticated analytics for understanding user engagement and predictive messaging to anticipate customer needs. It will begin to focus on interactive elements, like in-message purchasing or scheduling, to improve engagement. These innovations could revolutionize the way businesses engage with customers, providing more seamless and intuitive communication experiences.

To stay ahead of the curve and embrace these trends, businesses should actively adopt new messaging features as they become available, such as RCS (Rich Communication Services), which offers enhanced multimedia capabilities. 

Additionally, staying attuned to changing consumer preferences, such as the demand for greater privacy and instantaneity, will be crucial. Embracing these innovations will enable businesses to leverage text messaging as a dynamic and powerful tool for customer engagement.

Getting started with text messaging for business

You can get started with business text messaging in 5 simple steps:

1. Choose a provider: Research and select a text messaging service provider that fits your business needs. Consider factors like pricing, features, scalability, and support.
2. Choose a number: Decide whether you’ll use a short code, long code, or toll-free number. Short codes are ideal for mass text campaigns due to their high throughput, while long codes or toll-free numbers might be better for personalized communication or customer service.
3. Upload your contacts: Import your existing contact list into the chosen SMS platform. Ensure you have explicit consent from your contacts to receive SMS messages.
4. Build your list: Gow your contact list by adding a sign-up form on your website, at points of sale, or during customer interactions. Clearly communicate what messages they will receive and how often to maintain transparency and build trust.
5. Text your contacts: Start crafting and sending messages! Keep your texts concise and clear, and always include a call to action.

SimpleTexting is SMS marketing software

Businesses that text customers are 217% more likely to report success. Take advantage of SMS marketing. Meaningful connections are just a text away with SimpleTexting.

Learn More

Sign up for business texting with SimpleTexting today!

Business text messaging is a versatile and powerful communication tool that can transform how companies interact with customers and manage internal operations. With its direct and instant nature, it offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage audiences, streamline processes, and enhance customer service. 

As technology evolves, embracing innovations and adapting to new consumer preferences will be key for businesses aiming to fully capitalize on the potential of text messaging. By implementing best practices and continuously refining strategies, businesses can ensure they leverage this dynamic platform to its fullest, fostering stronger connections and driving growth in an increasingly digital world.Ready to unlock the power of business texting? Sign up with SimpleTexting today!

The post Business text messaging: Strategies, compliance, and innovation appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

In a world where attention is the new currency, businesses are upping their game, using SMS not just as a way to shout into the void, but as a strategic tool to engage their customers where they already are. 

Whether it’s used for VIP sales access, real-time feedback loops, important event reminders, or gentle nudges about the lonely items in consumer carts, SMS is proving its might as a multifaceted marketing powerhouse.

As this marketing channel continues to grow, we’re thrilled to unveil SimpleTexting’s fifth annual SMS marketing report. We surveyed 1,400 consumers, business owners, and digital marketers to understand how these parties view and use SMS in 2024. 

First, we asked consumers about their mobile habits when it comes to texting, screen time, and two-way communication with businesses. 

Then we asked business owners and marketing managers about texting adoption, successful use cases, AI integration, and SMS marketing conversion rates in 2024.

So, what percentage of businesses are texting their customers, and what do SMS opt-in rates look like today across industries? Cue the drumroll and dig into the latest insights below to find out.

Key SMS marketing statistics

• In 2024, 80% of businesses use SMS marketing software to text their customers and nearly 70% are increasing their SMS marketing budgets. 
• Businesses that text customers are 683% more likely to report digital marketing success than businesses that don’t use text messaging. (OR=6.83, Cl=11.82, 3.95)
• 87% of businesses that text report their digital marketing is successful.
• 91% of business owners and marketing managers say they see higher conversion rates with integrated marketing campaigns that include SMS.
• Most businesses have an average SMS marketing click-through rate between 21 and 35% and an average opt-out rate between 1 and 2%.
• Customer satisfaction surveys and customer service are the primary reasons why businesses are using SMS marketing in 2024.  
• Businesses say that 11-20% of their revenue can be attributed to SMS marketing.
• 81% of consumers check their text notifications within just five minutes of receiving a text. And nearly 30% check their text notifications within just 60 seconds of receipt.
• Over 90% of consumers text every day, and most check their text messages more than 10 times per day.
• 80% of consumers say texting is the most important activity they do on their phones throughout the day. 
• In 2024, 79% of consumers opted in to receive texts from businesses –– indicating an 11% growth in consumer opt-ins from last year.
• 60% of consumers like having the capability to text businesses back.
• Most consumers currently receive texts from 1-3 businesses but are willing to opt in to texts from 4-6 businesses.
• Consumers are most likely to subscribe to texts from businesses within the e-commerce/retail and healthcare industries. 
• Appointment/reservation reminders, shipment tracking, promotions, and sale alerts are the biggest reasons consumers are signing up to receive business texts. 

Consumer SMS stats and insights

How quickly do consumers check their text notifications?

When it comes to checking text notifications, consumer responsiveness is swift. Nearly 30% of consumers check their text notifications within just 60 seconds of receipt, and a staggering 80% check their text notifications within just five minutes of receiving a text. 

Even for those who take a bit longer, the majority are still quite prompt. Around 14% of consumers check their text notifications within 15 to 30 minutes of receiving a text. 

This lightning-speed engagement is great news for businesses who use SMS, ensuring that your message doesn’t just arrive, but is seen and considered almost instantly.

How frequently do consumers check their texts throughout the day?

In a world where consumers often skip YouTube ads, remove pop-ups, and quickly scroll past social media blasts, capturing the attention of your audience can be quite an uphill battle. 

Enter SMS marketing: where texts put your brand squarely in front of your customers using a medium they’re already engaged with and invested in. 91% of consumers text every day, and 43% of consumers check their text messages more than 10 times per day.
As many companies wish to target younger generations, we found that Gen Zers are glued to their texts and group chats. 48% of Gen Zers check their text messages more than 10 times per day, and aquarter of Gen Zers (25%) check their messages more than 20 times per day.

How are consumers using their smartphones?

On an average day, people prioritize checking their text messages over any other app on their phones. 80% of consumers report texting as their primary mobile activity, surpassing other popular activities like social media (68%), emails (58%), news or entertainment (53%), and music or podcasts (51%). 

This insight highlights text messages’ impressive user engagement, establishing it as a prime channel for businesses to effectively reach their target audience.

How many consumers are opted in to SMS marketing in 2024?

In 2024, people want direct communication with businesses. 79% of consumers are opted in to receive texts from businesses. In our 2023 report, 71% of people subscribed, indicating an 11% growth in consumer SMS marketing opt-ins year over year and a growing preference for text-based communication from brands.

Here’s how the insights shake out by different demographics: more women (84%) are opted in to receive texts from businesses than men (73%) and Gen Z is the generation subscribing to SMS marketing the most. 85% of Gen Zers are currently opted in to receive texts from businesses –– 19% more than last year. By comparison, 78% of millennials and 81% of Gen Xers opt in to SMS. 

How frequently do consumers want to receive texts from businesses?

There is still untapped potential within SMS marketing. Most SMS subscribers currently receive texts from 1-3 businesses, but are willing to opt in to texts from 4-6 businesses, signaling an unclaimed territory ripe for businesses ready to differentiate themselves and deepen customer loyalty through text messaging.

When it comes to text message cadence, no one wants to feel spammed. Most SMS subscribers (48%) want to receive texts from businesses once every other week, followed by 36% who say once a week, 10% who say twice a week, and a modest 6% who say three times per week or more. 

Interestingly, even though more women opt in to business texts than men, men are open to receiving business texts more frequently than women –– 41% of men want to receive texts from businesses once a week. Only 32% of women say the same.

Which industries have the most SMS contacts?

Consumers are most likely to receive texts from companies in e-commerce/retail (48%), followed by healthcare (36%), and finance (24%). Text message marketing can help e-commerce and retail businesses attract new customers, send personalized store promotions, reduce cart abandonment, and provide two-way customer support. With SMS for healthcare, businesses can improve patient communication, send appointment reminders, reduce no-shows, and instantly attend to urgent patient requests. 

Notably, there has been a significant increase in e-commerce and retailed-related opt-ins compared to last year’s report. In 2023, e-commerce/retail accounted for 46% of SMS opt-ins, indicating a 4% growth in e-commerce and retailed-related opt-ins year over year.

Why are consumers opting in to texts from businesses?

The driving forces behind consumers’ growing enthusiasm for opting into business texts are clear. Appointment/reservation reminders (73%), shipment tracking/order status (66%), and promotions/sale alerts (58%) are the three most common reasons why consumers subscribe to SMS. Convenience, timely access to deals, and efficient post-purchase experiences are compelling consumers to sign up. 

How many consumers want two-way texting with businesses?

The majority of consumers value two-way conversations with businesses, particularly when it comes to customer support. 60% of consumers say they want the ability to text a business back –– 12% more than last year’s report, where 53% of consumers wanted text-back capability. 

When it comes to customer service, consumers prefer texting less than email, but more than phone calls or live chat.

When asking consumers, “How would you like to contact a business when you have a question,” the largest share of consumers (32%) prefer emailing a customer service representative. 

Texting is a close runner-up (28%), followed by phone calls (19%), live chat (19%), and social media messages (2%). 

But the results shift when we zoom in on specific demographics. For instance, Gen Zers and men prefer texting over all other contact methods for their customer service inquiries.

The way we communicate is evolving, and nowhere is this more evident than in our professional and personal transactions. We asked consumers how they would prefer to communicate with a recruiter when applying for a job, for things like interview scheduling, checking on their application status, and more. 26% of Gen Zers and 20% of people overall prefer texting with a recruiter over emailing or calling. 

When it comes to house hunting, even more people are hopping on the texting bandwagon. When asked how they would prefer to communicate with a real estate agent for things like scheduling showings and submitting offers, the largest portion of consumers (40%) name texting as their preferred contact method. 

Why would consumers opt out of texts from businesses?

63% of consumers say that businesses that text them provide them with a better overall customer experience than those that don’t. However, there’s a fine line between engaging and overwhelming. 

The primary deal-breakers leading consumers to unsubscribe from business texts include messaging too frequently (50%), spam-like content (21%), and messages that lack relevance (14%). This stat underlines the importance of balance and customization in text marketing strategies to maintain customer satisfaction. 

A good rule of thumb for businesses: avoid bombarding consumers with too many texts and set expectations from the jump. Upon opting in, consumers should be informed about the frequency of messages they can expect to receive from a brand each month.

Save this for later: How often to text? 5 cadences we suggest to 17,000+ businesses

Another piece of advice: steer clear of texts that feel spammy. Before hitting send, take a moment to consider if your message reads as though there’s a genuine person behind it. Messages that pass this human touch test are far more likely to elicit responses or clicks from customers.

Business SMS stats and insights

What percentage of businesses use SMS marketing in 2024?

Texting is now a widely used digital marketing channel. 80% of businesses are using SMS marketing software to text their customers in 2024. In 2022, 55% of businesses were using SMS marketing, so 45% more businesses are using text marketing now compared to this time two years ago. That may be because many small business are discovering that SMS marketing is very affordable, effective, and an efficient way to handle day-to-day customer communications.

Healthcare (86%), e-commerce/retail (84%), and consumer services (81%) are the industries seeing the highest SMS marketing adoption rates. What’s more, 69% of business owners and digital marketing managers plan on increasing their text marketing budget in 2024. 

How does SMS marketing impact overall marketing success?

Incorporating SMS marketing into your overall digital marketing mix can make all the difference, and the stats are in to prove it. 87% of businesses that text report their digital marketing is successful, but only 49% of businesses that don’t text say the same. 

So businesses that text are 683% more likely to report digital marketing success than those that don’t.

When it comes to cross-channel integration, 78% of businesses are integrating their text marketing with other digital marketing and CRM platforms like Mailchimp, Hubspot, and Salesforce. Businesses leveraging this cross-channel approach are 20% more likely to report digital marketing success than those that aren’t. 

They’re also more likely to see higher conversion rates from their marketing efforts. 91% of business owners and marketing managers say they see higher conversion rates with integrated marketing campaigns that include SMS.

What are average SMS click-through rates, conversion rates, and opt-out rates in 2024?

In 2024, the majority of businesses (40%) have an average text marketing click-through rate between 21 and 35%, with businesses in the healthcare industry leading the charge. A staggering 83% of healthcare businesses see average click-through rates higher than 20%. 

Moreover, click-through rates are steadily rising over time, as more businesses adopt SMS marketing. The percentage of businesses whose average click-through rates are higher than 35% ballooned by nearly 62% between 2021 and 2024.

When it comes to converting those clicks into concrete results, the majority of businesses are seeing SMS marketing conversion rates between 21 and 30%, with finance and healthcare businesses at the forefront. 81% of finance businesses and 79% of businesses in healthcare see average SMS conversion rates higher than 20%.

Amidst the flurry of engagement and conversions, businesses are keeping their audiences happy and opted in. Most businesses have an average SMS marketing opt-out rate between 1 and 2%. The vast majority of businesses (81%) have average opt-out rates under 5%. 

Even more impressive, 16% of businesses have average opt-out rates under 1%.

How and why are businesses using SMS marketing?

In the past, the go-to uses for SMS marketing revolved around promotions, special offers, and managing billing or collections. Fast-forward to 2024, and there’s a noticeable shift. 

Now, businesses are prioritizing customer satisfaction surveys (41%) and customer service/support (39%) as their top reasons for sending texts. This evolution highlights a deeper dive into enhancing customer experiences and building stronger relationships with customers.

The largest share of businesses (36%) name two-way interactions as the biggest benefit of using SMS marketing. Two-way texting between customer service representatives and customers not only personalizes the customer experience, but also opens the door to real-time feedback, queries, and resolutions, making every text an opportunity to build loyalty. Other top motivations for investing in SMS are real-time reach and instant delivery (33%), and high open/click-through rates (31%).

How much business revenue can be attributed to SMS marketing?

The lion’s share of businesses (81%) agree that text message marketing is an effective way to drive revenue for their business, and the majority of businesses (40%) say 11 to 20% of their revenue can be attributed to SMS. 

This isn’t just a nod to the effectiveness of texting as a marketing channel; it’s a loud and clear endorsement of its role as a critical revenue generator. 

Which emerging trends are businesses incorporating into their SMS marketing strategy?

Using AI for personalization and automation (40%) is the most popular SMS marketing trend for businesses in 2024. Today, businesses can use generative AI to write text messages that create real value for their customers, have a clear call to action, and represent their brand.

Following closely are chatbots/virtual assistants (35%) and interactive polls/surveys (31%). Together, these trends underscore a dynamic shift towards more interactive, intelligent, and customer-centric SMS marketing approaches. 

Forecasting the future of SMS marketing stats

SMS marketing doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Companies are leveraging AI in their SMS marketing strategies, opt-in rates continue to rise, and industries like healthcare, e-commerce, and retail are using SMS to their advantage. 

Check out our success stories spanning various industries, showcasing how SMS marketing has empowered both small business owners and corporations to connect effectively with their target audiences. Another good source of inspiration is our small business podcast where we work one-on-one with customers to help them solve their marketing challenges. Interested in starting your own SMS campaign or engaging customers through two-way texting? Try us out for free today!

Methodology

The statistics in this report are derived from two separate surveys. We surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers across a range of demographics and regions, and 400 U.S. business owners and marketing managers across a range of industries and company sizes from December 20th to 22nd, 2023. Interested in SMS marketing statistics from previous years? View our 2022 and 2023 SMS marketing reports.

The post Texting & SMS marketing statistics in 2024 appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

So why choose text messages to send your invites?

• Mailing invitations and tracking responses can take more time than throwing an actual party.
• Sending invitations over email is better, but they’re at risk of ending up in a spam inbox or at the bottom of the unread list without ever being seen.

The point? Old-school invitations are a pain.

Enter texting. 90% of consumers text every single day, and the majority check their text messages more than 10 times each day.

That means text message invitations are much more likely to be seen and responded to than other communication methods. 

I’ll show you how to breeze through the invitation-sending process with SMS.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What are text message invitations
• How to send text message invitations
• How to request RSVPs by text message
• 5 benefits of sending text message invitations
• 12 sample text message invitations to events

What are text message invitations?

You can keep text message invitations simple, like this real-life example from Save the Boundary Waters:

This is a good example because it’s straightforward with all the info you need to attend:

• Who: A personal touch with a first name and the organization name
• What: An update on the campaign to save the Boundary Waters from pollution
• Where: The Moorhead Library (a local would know where this is)
• When: 5:30pm on Monday (including the actual date can be helpful, too)
• Call to action: A simple question prompts a reply to know who will join them (literally writing that the receiver can reply to the text may be helpful as well)

Another type of invitation sending an actual calendar link via text message:

When someone clicks the link, they see their phone wants to open a calendar file (at least on iPhone):

Lastly, your invitee will see that calendar file open in their default calendar application on their phone:

In this blog post, you’ll learn how to send a simple invitation via text message from start to finish.

How to send text message invitations

Still not sure about the process of sending out text invitations? Wait until you see how easy they are to set up with SimpleTexting.

SimpleTexting is a mass texting service that helps send text message invitations (among many other kinds of texts) to help you get attendance for your event, grow your business or organization, and engage your volunteers, employees, and customers.

1. Import your guest list

Whether you’re only inviting your closest colleagues to your event, or need to send invites via text messages to thousands of attendees, our platform makes it easy to upload your contacts via a CSV or Excel spreadsheet.

Make sure you have express consent to text your guests, especially if you’re sending an invite to more than just a few people.

Let’s add your event guest list into SimpleTexting with a spreadsheet.

First, let’s optimize your spreadsheet so the data imports nicely. Use row one to enter each of these as columns:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Email
• Phone
• Birthday

Here’s a spreadsheet template to get started.

Next, log into SimpleTexting and navigate to Contacts. Click the Add contacts button, drag and drop your event guest list spreadsheet, and name the list to which you wish you add the invitees.

Hit Next and follow the prompts. SimpleTexting will help you import your data and map the columns to custom fields in SimpleTexting.

Lastly, SimpleTexting will ensure everything is in compliance so you can send text message invitations with confidence.

2. Write your text message invitation or evite

Once you’ve uploaded the guests who will get your invitation, you’re ready to write your message. Be sure to include details like the date, location, time, parking information, and anything else your guests should know.

John, thanks for being a loyal member! You’re invited to the National Audubon Society picnic. It’ll be at Debs Park, 4700 Griffin Ave. Meet in the center courtyard at 11 am.

In SimpleTexting, you’ll write your evite text as a campaign. That’s simply the term SMS services call a text message for business purposes.

Log into SimpleTexting, click Campaigns in the left menu, and hit the New button. Name your campaign, then write your invitation in the Text message field.

Pro tip: You can leverage AI to write your invitation for you. Simply click Generate message and type in your who, what, where, when, and why. Then hit Generate a message and use one of the message suggestions.

3. Schedule your text message invitation

You can send your message right away or schedule it for a future date.

We recommend sending:

1. One text as soon as you have a set date for your event
2. A text reminder one week before the event
3. Another reminder the day before the event

That’s the beauty of the digital invitation: You can send as many as you need without having to worry about spending tons of money on printing and postage.

How to request RSVPs by text message

Our texting service allows for two-way messaging, which means guests can respond to your invitations. This makes simplifying your planning and managing your attendance a breeze.

There are a few ways you can go about asking guests to RSVP. Here are three of my favorites.

1. Ask guests to reply to your text

If you’re only inviting a handful of people, keep things simple by asking guests to reply to your invitation. Then just keep a running list of who has confirmed they’ll be attending. 

For fundraisers, conferences, or other events with more attendees, you may want to go with one of the options below.

In SimpleTexting, you’ll send the invitation as a Campaign. Then you’ll use the Inbox to view and reply to those who respond.

2. Create a text-to-join keyword for your event or party

A keyword is a word or phrase that people can text to your number in order to sign up for updates about your event. You simply advertise to your audience to text that term to your phone number via posters, fliers, website, emails, social media, etc.

For example, if your business name is Home Smart, and you’re throwing a launch party for your new product, you could create the keyword, “HSLAUNCH.”

Anytime someone texts the keyword to your number, our platform will add them to a separate contact list.

Whenever you need a headcount, you can just log in to the platform and see who has texted in the keyword.

Set up your event’s text-to-join keyword in SimpleTexting. Log into SimpleTexting, select Keywords from the left menu, type in your Keyword name and determine the list you wish those who text that keyword to enter (either Add to new list or Add to existing list).

Use AI Assist to write your Auto-confirmation message. Good confirmation text messages include:

1. The brand or organization name
2. The kinds of updates to expect
3. The frequency of how often you’ll text
4. Opt out and data rates (SimpleTexting does this automatically for you)

3. Use data collection to request more details

You may be wondering, “But how will I know if my guests are bringing a plus-one?” I’ve got you covered. 

Data collection lets you automatically ask guests who have RSVP’d using a keyword for additional details. 

Find out their name, their plus-one’s name, whether they’re vegetarian, or anything else you may need to know.

5 benefits of sending text message invitations

Still not convinced SMS invites are the way to go? Let’s talk about some of the highlights of texting.

I’ve already mentioned the convenience and reliability factor, but here are some of the other biggest reasons to use texting for your invitations.

1. Message and invitation tracking

When you send your invitations out via text message, you can easily keep track of how many you’ve sent, who has replied so far, and other important details (especially if you send a link to more information about the event, like speakers and parking information). 

Platforms like ours can even keep your Analytics organized in one place so you can see who is and isn’t engaging with your messages.

2. Save money on sending texts

Ditch the expensive stationery and postage — sending out mass text invitations is a much smarter investment. With software like SimpleTexting, you can send hundreds of event text messages starting at $29/month.

3. It’s fast and reliable

Texts won’t get lost in the mail, and they can be pulled back up for reference with just a few clicks. 

Plus, you can schedule reminder messages leading up to your event to ensure none of your attendees forget about your big day (and to make sure you don’t forget to remind them).

4. Personalized text messages and invitations

A big misconception about text invites is that they’re impersonal. That idea mostly comes from the overly general marketing texts many of us have received, and it couldn’t be less true.

Using custom fields, you can make each text invitation unique by including first or last names (or any other details you know about your contacts) in your message. Send personalized invitations to all your guests with just a few clicks.

5. It’s environmentally friendly

Paper invites are nice to hang on the fridge for a while, but eventually, they’ll end up in a landfill. Send invitations by SMS to do your part in going paperless and saving the Earth.

12 sample text message invitations to events

It might be good to review successful text message invitation samples while you craft your own. Here are 16 examples of text message invitations for various events:

1. Invitation to a soft opening

The following is an example of an invitation for a grand opening of a retail establishment.

2. Invitation to a store’s anniversary party

This is an example of an invitation to a party celebrating the opening of a grocery shop.

3. Invitation to a networking function

An invitation to a business function may look like this:

4. Invite to a benefit for charity

A sample invitation to a charity event reads as follows:

5. Announcement of product release party

This example invites people to a product launch party:

6. Announcement of grand opening party for new location

Promoting a new storefront is demonstrated here; take note!

7. Invitation to a job fair

To help you promote an event to attract job seekers, below is a sample that you may use as a guide:

8. Invitation to a pop-up event

Here’s a case in point that exemplifies how to attract attendees to a pop-up event or to any other entertainment event:

Definitely don’t want to miss this!

9. Invitation to a reception

An invitation to a company event may look like this:

10. Announcing the grand opening of a restaurant

An example invitation that a new restaurant may send out looks like this:

11. Invitation to a company party

This is an example of an invitation that a business may use for a formal event:

12. Invitation for a closing event

In the case that you are shutting down a business, you may send out an invitation for people to attend the ceremony with a text message invitation that looks something like this:

Make your next event a success with text message invitations

You’ve worked hard on your event, and you want to make sure you have as many guests as possible on your big day. Get their attention with text message invitations (trust me, it’s easier for both you and them).

Pssst…If you’re still not sure whether you want to start sending invites via text, try SimpleTexting out for 14 days, totally free. If you need any help, our support team is available every day of the week to answer any questions you may have.

This piece was originally published March 12, 2019. It was refreshed March 16, 2023, August 1, 2023, and August 22, 2023. Rana Bano and Nathan Ellering contributed to this piece.

The post How to send invites via text for your next event appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

But if you open Google and search for “best mass text app,” you’ll see dozens of service providers claiming to be the best.

Below, we’ll break down the pros and cons of the top players in the mass texting industry (yes, even alternatives to our platform) and tell you everything to look for in the best mass texting service for your business. 

Even if you decide not to go with ours, we hope this guide saves you some time and helps you make an informed decision.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• The 11 best mass text apps
• Things the best mass text apps have in common
• Non negotiable mass texting app features
• Mass text campaign examples
• Mass texting app FAQs

Methodology

To shortlist the best mass texting apps, I spent hours sending texts, creating templates, adding contacts, and testing out advanced features for 11 SMS platforms. 

I was specially looking at how easy it is to:

• Send and receive messages
• Upload and manage contacts
• Configure the inbox
• Create and use templates
• Integrate with third-party apps
• Automate and schedule texts

These are core to any mass texting app worth its salt. I know this because besides working in the SMS marketing industry for 18+ months, I have experience owning and marketing a small business.

16 best mass text apps – tested

Not sure where to start with your search for the best mass texting service? I’ve got you. Here’s a quick rundown of the top eleven mass texting apps in the industry.

1. SimpleTexting – best mass texting app for small business
2. TextMagic – best mass text app for international texting
3. Textedly – best budget app for mass texting
4. SlickText – best mass texting app for loyalty programs
5. EZ Texting – best quick-start mass texting app
6. Podium – best mass text app for local business operations
7. Attentive – best mass text app for ecommerce business
8. Mailchimp – best app for combining mass email and SMS
9. MessageMedia – best mass text app for mid-market to enterprise
10. DialMyCalls – best mass text app for mass texting and phone call
11. Messente – best mass text app with variable pricing
12. Omnisend – Best for multichannel marketing
13. Klaviyo – Best for marketing automations
14. SMSBump – Best for BigCommerce and Shopify users
15. Postscript – Best for hyper-segmentation
16. Sakari – Best for global users

SimpleTexting: Best mass texting app for small business

Admittedly, I’m a little biased about how amazing SimpleTexting is, but I have the data and testimonials to back it up.

More than 17,000 small and medium-sized businesses choose our platform because of its flexible pricing, user-friendly platform, and advanced features. From text-blasting services to lead generation, we have it all for you.

In an in-depth review of SimpleTexting on Business.com, contributing writer Mark Farlie said that “Having the type of connected system SimpleTexting’s developers created could give your company a competitive edge. That’s why we’ve selected SimpleTexting as the ideal text message marketing supplier for small businesses.”

If you want your SMS marketing strategy to work seamlessly with other tools your business relies on, our team can create custom integrations for your unique needs. We’ve worked with restaurants, healthcare practices, nonprofits, schools, and other organizations to automate text message campaigns and sync their contact lists. If you need inspiration, look no further than our small business podcast.

Pros

• Unlimited keywords
• Mobile app
• Custom integrations and API for all plans

Cons

• No built-in QR code function
• Only available for businesses in North America

Pricing

SimpleTexting offers flexible pricing plans, with the lowest plan starting at $29/month for 500 messaging credits. Any unused credits in a given month roll over to the next month (but only for one month). You can add more credits at any time through the self-serve billing dashboard.

Free trial

To give users a chance to experience the platform’s features, SimpleTexting provides a 14-day free trial without requiring credit card information until you’re ready to upgrade.

Top features

SimpleTexting is best known for its:

• Link tracking
• Unlimited keywords
• SMS polls and surveys
• Data collection
• Seamless experience for mass texting and one-on-one conversations

Device availability

You can use SimpleTexting on desktop, smartphones, tablets, or any other wifi-enabled device. Our mobile app is available for iOS and Android.

TextMagic: Best mass text app for international texting

With its flexible pricing model and international capabilities, TextMagic is great for small businesses and those with customers outside the U.S. and Canada.

TextMagic can identify invalid numbers to improve message deliverability, and it has email-to-SMS capabilities that make communication convenient. With TextMagic, you can send audio files via text and use text-to-speech to make phone calls. This means you can communicate beyond just words on a screen.

While most SMS platforms have pricing tiers, TextMagic charges $0.04 per text, making it a flexible option for businesses with variable sending volume. 

Pros

• Has a pay-as-you-go pricing model, instead of monthly or annual plans
• Allows you to text contacts in 200 countries

Cons

• Pricing model may not be cost-effective for companies sending a high volume of texts

Pricing

TextMagic’s pricing is pay-as-you-go. So, you only pay for the number of messages you send, rather than paying a fixed amount every month or year. 

The cost begins at $0.049 per text to U.S. numbers. If you send more than 100,000 messages every month, you can request custom pricing.

Free trial

Try TextMagic free for 30 days with $0.40 in messaging credits.

Top features

TextMagic is best known for its:

• Ability to send SMS via email
• SMS surveys 

Device availability

TextMagic offers a mobile app for iOS and Android that performs many of the same functions as its desktop app.

Textedly: Best budget service for mass texting

Textedly is a simple, yet effective, mass texting platform for businesses on a budget that are looking for a simple suite of features. If you’re looking for a straightforward SMS platform with a low price, add this one to your list.

When I was testing Textedly out, I noticed some of its features are add-ons. While most platforms include things like automated texts and personalization in their monthly subscriptions, Textedly offers them a la carte for a one-time fee. 

Because its pricing tiers are so inexpensive, these add-on fees may not be a problem for businesses that need basic SMS functionality.

Pros

• One of the least expensive SMS platforms
• Simple and user-friendly

Cons 

• No mobile app
• No API (just Zapier-powered integrations)
• Limited contact segmentation capabilities

Pricing

Textedly’s thirteen pricing tiers range from a $26/month plan for 500 text messages and one custom keyword to the $2,999/month plan, which includes 200,000 text messages and 50 keywords. 

Free trial

Textedly’s 14-day free trial comes with 50 text messages.

Top features

Popular Textedly features include:

• Data collection
• Voice services
• Instagram texting button
• MMS

Device availability

Textedly has a standard desktop app, but they don’t have a mobile app as of January 2024.

SlickText: Best mass texting app for loyalty programs

With its free onboarding session, SlickText is an excellent choice for business owners who want a personalized onboarding experience.

In addition to standard features like two-way messaging, mass texting, MMS, and keywords, SlickText provides advanced capabilities like automated workflows, personalization, and loyalty program software. 

This last feature is helpful for retail companies, restaurants, and service-based businesses that want to keep customers coming back on a regular basis.

Pros

• Offers a mobile app
• Free onboarding session for $139/month plans or higher

Cons

• Limited number of keywords allowed

Pricing

Like SimpleTexting, SlickText’s plans start as low as $29/month for 500 messaging credits. This plan comes with two keywords but doesn’t include automated workflows. Its top-level plan — the Monstro — includes 50,000 messages for $1,250/month.

Free trial

Try SlickText out free for 14 days with 50 messaging credits.

Top features

SlickText offers its users:

• SMS polls and surveys
• Website popups
• Loyalty rewards
• URL shortener
• QR codes
• MMS

Device availability

You can use SlickText on iOS or Android, in addition to desktop.

EZ Texting: Best quick-start mass texting app

EZ Texting is best for business owners with limited marketing experience who are looking for a robust, easy-to-use platform. 

Customers rave about EZ Texting beginner’s guide, which helps you get up and running quickly without feeling overwhelmed. It’s not the cheapest platform on the market, but it’s built with busy marketers and business owners in mind. The ease of use could save you time and, ultimately, money.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Provides a wealth of industry-specific educational content

Cons

• More expensive than similar platforms
• Unused credits don’t roll over month-to-month or annually
• Limited number of keywords allowed for plans under $299/month

Pricing

EZ Texting’s pricing plans range from $25/month for 500 credits and 500 contacts to $3,000/month for 60,000 credits and 50,000 contacts. 

Free trial

You can try EZ Texting free for 14 days with 50 messages and one keyword.

Top features

Popular EZ Texting features include:

• MMS
• Shutterstock media library
• Text forwarding
• SafeSTOP® compliance

Device availability

In addition to its desktop app, EZ Texting has an iOS app that lets you review campaign performance and delivery, send and receive texts, and manage your contacts.

Podium: Best mass text app for local businesses

Podium is excellent if you’re serving local markets and need a reliable mass texting platform. Beyond texting, I like how its reputation management system simplifies the collection and tracking of customer reviews. Podium also lets you respond to reviews from Google My Business and Facebook.

While Podium users like their ability to request and collect customer reviews via SMS, the catch is, Podium isn’t cheap. Its steep basic plan costs $249/month for 1000 contacts. Other budget-friendly alternatives with similar features are DialMyCalls and MessageMedia. 

Pros

• Get reviews easily from GMB, Yelp, and other local business listings
• Offers custom payment solutions 
• Intuitive user interface 
• Audience segmentation

Cons

• Costly for small businesses on a budget 
• Does not integrate with Yelp

Pricing

Podium has the essential, standard, and professional pricing packages. The essential plan cost $249/month for managing 1000 contacts. This plan allows you to integrate 100+ apps and send up to 100 bulk messages monthly. 

Free trial

None. Interested users have to book a demo to get started.

Top features

Podium has some brilliant functionalities, like: 

• Custom-built integrations and APIs
• Intuitive user interface
• SMS and review management on one platform
• Custom payment processing 
• Audience segmentation 
• Auto-responses to FAQs
• Campaign analytics dashboard 

Device availability

Podium is available on Android, iOS, and desktops.

Attentive: best mass text app for ecommerce business

Attentive is a conversational marketing platform with tools like SMS for e-commerce businesses. Their platform has responsive templates and integrates with eCommerce bigwigs like BigCommerce, Shopify, Gorgias, etc. Recently, they partnered with Stamped, a review management platform that enables you to request customer reviews via SMS. Besides the regular features of any SMS marketing software, Attentive has AI capabilities for creating personalized SMS and email campaigns quickly. That’s why, among other reasons, business owners like Paul Goodman recommend it.

However, users like Dave Rekuc claim Attentive isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. What Dave says:

Pros

• Integrates with Shopify and Salesforce
• Simple user interface
• Syncs customer and product data across platforms
• Campaigns are easy to set up and manage 

Cons

• No mobile app
• Email platform needs improvement 

Pricing

Attentive pricing packages are available on request. 

Free trial

Attentive SMS doesn’t offer a free trial. This is limiting because even a demo may be insufficient for you to understand how a platform works. 

Top features

• Email and SMS opt-in list
• One-on-one onboarding sessions
• Predesigned flows 
• Concierge facilities 
• 2-in-1 email and SMS signup units
• AMCA SPAM regulations 

Device availability

Attentive, unlike other platforms listed here, is only available on desktop.

Mailchimp: best mass texting and email combination app

Mailchimp is a conversation marketing platform. It offers robust tools for email marketing and SMS management, including AI-powered functionalities.

Mailchimp allows you to set automatic responses to customer messages based on preset actions and triggers. For instance, if a customer leaves your site without purchasing, you can trigger an automated follow-up message to encourage them to complete their purchase. This enables timely response while simultaneously improving your conversion rate.

Keep in mind that SMS is an add-on service and is only available to US users on standard and premium plans. If you’re looking for a way to send an SMS broadcast, you can easily do so with our platform while ensuring compliance with messaging regulations.

Pros

• Customizable templates and features 
• Free plan for email marketing services
• Simple and intuitive user interface 
• SMS compliance 

Cons

• Not suited for businesses with large contact lists 
• SMS marketing is an add-on 
• SMS marketing services are limited to US residents
• Unused credits expire and don’t roll over to the following month 

Pricing

SMS credits are required to send text messages, and it costs $20/month for 1000 credits. 

Free trial

While Mailchimp has a free trial for its email marketing feature, the same doesn’t apply to its SMS marketing. 

Top features

• Email and SMS signup forms and landing pages 
• Audience segmentation 
• Link tracking 
• Multimedia messaging 
• Automated campaign flows 

Device availability

Mailchimp is available on Android, iOS, and desktops. 

MessageMedia: best mass text app for mid-market to enterprise

MessageMedia is a US-based multi-channel marketing platform for businesses in eCommerce, healthcare, retail, education, etc.

One of its points of attraction is its reliability. They boast of a 100% gateway uptime and avoid network failures. The translation: they provide uninterrupted service to users. In case of a network failure, the system quickly switches to an alternative gateway to prevent further disruptions. 

On MessageMedia, you can send over 40,000 text messages without glitches. Their robust system also promises to handle scalability challenges. 

Pros

• Customizable SMS templates, including QR codes and call-to-actions
• 99.99% uptime  
• Affordable plans for businesses looking to scale 
• Reliable customer support 
• Easy to set up 

Cons

• Advanced features are available on higher plans only 
• Tracking campaigns on the basic plans may appear challenging

Pricing

MessageMedia offers competitive pricing plans. Its lowest starts at $49/month and lets you send up to 1000 SMS and MMS to unlimited users. Access to Pro integrations, advanced analytics, or keywords are available in higher plans. 

Free trial

MessageMedia lets users test its platform for 14 days without making monetary commitments or linking their credit card. 

Top features

• Integrates seamlessly with CRM (customer relationship management) tools, marketing tools, and eCommerce platforms 
• In-depth reporting and analytics 
• MMS, SMS, and mobile landing pages
• GDPR/TCPA compliance 
• Barcodes 
• Link shortener 
• Two–way messaging 

Device availability

Android, iOS and desktop. 

DialMyCalls: best mass text app with phone calling

DialMyCalls is a solid choice for businesses that engage customers through texts and calls. Their automated calling system lets you send pre-recorded voice messages and texts to your contact list via SMS. 

DialMyCalls’s lowest pricing tier costs $6.74/month. This is affordable. However, you still need to pay for basic features like 2-way texting, MMS, and conference calls. 

If you’re looking to test the waters with SMS marketing, DialMyCalls may be a fit. But if you need a comprehensive mass texting app with features like enterprise-grade deliverability, advanced reporting, and API access, SimpleTexting is your best bet.  

Pros

• Affordable pricing plans 
• Free inbound SMS for all plans
• Email marketing services inclusive 

Cons

• Advanced features are add-ons 
• Extremely basic features on the smallest plan 

Pricing

DialMyCalls offers three pricing tiers: standard, premium, and pay-as-you-go plan. The standard plan costs $6.74/month, which covers SMS to 25 contacts, an SMS opt-in widget, and a couple other basic features. Standard features like MMS, 2-way texting, and conference calls come as an add-on and incur separate charges. 

Free trial

Unlike the other mass text apps listed here, DialMyCalls allows you to send 25 emails, SMS, or calls without adding your credit card. Once this is out, you have to subscribe to any of their packages to retain access to the features. 

Top features

• Automated calling system 
• Two-way messaging 
• Offers several custom integrations, including Zapier and Salesforce 
• Bulk emails
• SMS polls

Device availability

You can access, send, track, and manage text messages from the DialMyCalls mobile app (Android and iOS supported) and a Chrome extension for the web version. 

Messente: best mass text app with variable pricing

Messente is under two decades old, but it still ranks as one of the best mass text apps. Its comprehensive mass texting features made it a top choice for businesses. This includes SMS encryption, OTP generator via Verigator, multichannel messaging (WhatsApp and Viber), etc. 

Another standout feature is the security. Besides providing 2FA authentication to verify users, it uses SHA-256 with RSA encryption for securing your account and database. This mitigates the possibility of cyberattacks or phishing scams. 

Messente’s affordability doesn’t deliver sub-par functionalities. The features are enterprise-grade with seamless integration capabilities. 

Pros

• Simple and easy to use 
• Specialized onboarding experience
• Send SMS to customers across 197 countries 
• Integrate over 2000 apps using Zapier 

Cons

• Lack of self-service tools
• Deliverability status unavailable
• No WhatsApp integration  

Pricing

Messente uses a pay-as-you-go system. First, you select the region(s) you’re targeting and the number of texts you want to send. The system then auto-generates a pricing structure based on the information provided. You can also request a custom pricing plan if you send over 10,000 messages. 

Free trial

Signing up for the Messente mass text app gives you free credits to test its features. After using up your credits, you can opt for a paid plan if you’re satisfied.

Top features

• In-depth analytics and reporting 
• Custom APIs
• Two-way SMS
• 2FA authentication
• GDPR Compliance 

Device availability

Messente offers a web version but doesn’t have a mobile app yet.

Omnisend: Best for multichannel marketing

Omnisend is an all-in-one eCommerce marketing automation platform, designed to help businesses streamline their email and SMS marketing efforts. It is widely used by eCommerce brands to create personalized, automated workflows that increase customer engagement and drive sales.

Pros

• Channel Management: This process helps businesses create and implement diverse marketing strategies and techniques to maximize their reach to potential customers.
• Automation Workflows: Omnisend offers pre-built automation workflows for cart abandonment, welcome series, and product recommendations, making it easy to engage customers at key points in their buying journey.

Cons

• Missing Multivariate Testing: Omnisend isn’t capable of evaluating various combinations of webpage elements to identify the most effective one.
• Limited SMS Customization: While Omnisend offers SMS marketing, its customization options for text messages are more limited than those of dedicated SMS platforms.

Pricing

• Standard Plan: Starts at $16 per month.
• Pro Plan: Starts at $59 per month and includes $59 worth of free SMS credits each month.

For sending SMS in the US, the cost is approximately 2.2 cents per message

Free trial

Yes, Omnisend offers a free plan. On this plan, you can send up to 60 text messages per month to 250 contacts. This is a great way to explore Omnisend’s capabilities before committing to a paid plan.

Top Features

• Popups & Signup Forms
• Sales & performance reports

Device availability

Omnisend does not offer dedicated desktop or mobile applications for Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android.

Klaviyo: Best for marketing automations

Klaviyo is a marketing automation platform designed for eCommerce businesses, offering tools to create personalized email and SMS campaigns. It integrates with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling businesses to segment their audiences based on behavior and preferences. Klaviyo also provides detailed analytics and reporting to optimize marketing efforts and drive customer engagement and sales.

Pros

• Advanced automation features: Klaviyo excels in automating complex marketing workflows across SMS.
• Data-driven insights: It offers in-depth analytics and segmentation for more targeted messaging.

Cons

• Higher learning curve: Klaviyo’s tools can be difficult for beginners to navigate.
• Costs can scale quickly: Pricing increases with larger contact lists and higher message volumes.

Pricing

• Klaviyo charges per SMS sent, with pricing starting at $0.012 per message. 
• Paid plans start at around $20/month for smaller contact lists, with costs scaling as your list and messaging volume grow.

Free trial

Yes, Klaviyo offers a free plan for up to 250 contacts, allowing users to test its SMS capabilities before upgrading.

Top Features

• Marketing automations
• Advanced segmentation

Device availability

Klaviyo has no dedicated desktop or mobile apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android.

SMSBump: Best for BigCommerce and Shopify users

SMSBump is a marketing platform designed for eCommerce businesses to run SMS campaigns and automations. It integrates with platforms like Shopify, allowing businesses to send personalized messages, automate workflows (such as abandoned cart reminders), and track campaign performance. With its segmentation features and compliance tools, SMSBump helps brands increase engagement, boost conversions, and stay compliant with SMS marketing regulations.

Pros

• Seamless integration with eCommerce platforms: SMSBump is specifically designed to integrate effortlessly with Shopify and BigCommerce, making it ideal for online stores.
• Automated SMS marketing: It offers powerful automation tools to trigger SMS campaigns based on customer actions, like abandoned carts or completed purchases.

Cons

• Limited beyond eCommerce: While excellent for Shopify and BigCommerce users, SMSBump lacks features that non-eCommerce businesses might need.
• Learning curve for customization: Setting up advanced automations may require some time to master, especially for beginners.

Pricing

SMSBump uses a pay-as-you-go model, with SMS pricing starting at around $0.014 per message in the U.S. There are no monthly fees unless you choose additional features or higher-tier plans.

Free trial

Yes, SMSBump offers a free plan that includes basic SMS capabilities to test the platform’s core functions.

Top Features

• eCommerce automations
• Customizable templates

Device availability

SMSBump integrates directly with Shopify and BigCommerce platforms but does not offer standalone desktop or mobile apps.

Postscript: Best for hyper-segmentation

Postscript is an SMS marketing platform designed specifically for eCommerce businesses. It helps brands connect with customers through personalized text messages, driving engagement, sales, and loyalty. With features like targeted campaigns, automation, and integrations with platforms like Shopify, Postscript enables businesses to effectively manage and optimize their SMS marketing efforts.

Pros

• Advanced segmentation capabilities: Postscript allows users to create highly detailed customer segments based on behavior, purchase history, and engagement.
• Seamless Shopify integration: Specifically designed for Shopify, making it ideal for stores looking to implement hyper-targeted SMS campaigns.

Cons

• Limited to Shopify: Postscript is primarily focused on Shopify users, which can limit its appeal to businesses on other platforms.
• Pricing can increase with high-volume messaging: Costs can increase quickly for larger campaigns due to per-message pricing.

Pricing

• Per SMS Cost: Postscript’s pricing starts at $0.015 per SMS.
• Monthly Fees: The Starter plan requires a $25 monthly minimum spend. Higher-tier plans offer lower per SMS costs and additional features.

Free trial

Postscript offers a free trial with a $1,000 usage credit for 30 days. This credit can be used towards message and carrier fees, allowing users to test the platform’s features.

Top Features

• Hyper-segmentation
• Personalized messaging

Device availability

Despite Postscript’s Shopify integration capabilities, the service lacks dedicated desktop or mobile applications.

Sakari: Best for global users

Sakari is a messaging platform that provides SMS and MMS communication services for businesses. It enables organizations to send bulk text messages, manage SMS campaigns, and engage customers through automated and personalized messaging. Sakari’s services include text reminders, marketing promotions, alerts, and two-way messaging. The platform integrates with popular CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, making it easy to streamline customer communications and improve engagement.

Pros

• Wide international reach: Sakari supports SMS messaging in over 200 countries, making it ideal for businesses with a global audience.
• Multi-language support: Offers multi-language SMS options, allowing businesses to communicate effectively with customers worldwide.

Cons

• Higher costs for international messaging: Pricing varies by country, and sending messages internationally can become expensive.
• Limited eCommerce integrations: Sakari integrates with platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce but focuses less on eCommerce than other competitors.

Pricing

Sakari follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, with costs starting at $0.03 per SMS message in the U.S. Pricing varies for international messages based on country rates.

Free trial

Sakari offers a free trial that includes $5 in messaging credits, equivalent to about 100 SMS credits. This allows users to test Sakari’s global messaging capabilities.

Top Features

• Global reach
• Flexible API

Device availability

While there are no dedicated desktop or mobile apps, Sakari provides an easy-to-use API for custom integrations.

7 things the best mass text apps have in common

Everyone promises their group messaging service or text message marketing platform is the best in the industry. And there are certainly several great ones out there.

To ensure you’re signing up for the best mass text app that’d give you a positive ROI, look out for this seven elements:

1. Affordability for SMBs. Look for an app that offers competitive pricing, and compare how many credits you get in each pricing tier.
2. Ease of use. Test the app with a free trial to make sure it’s user-friendly and easy to navigate.
3. Automation. Look for features such as autoresponders and scheduled messages to save time and respond to your contacts faster. 
4. Security. Ensure the app is secure and encrypted.
5. Personalization. Look for features that allow for personalization, such as custom fields and the ability to segment contacts. 
6. Responsive support. Search its ratings on third-party sites for “support” to see what customers have to say about the app’s customer service.
7. Analytics. Check if the app provides detailed reports and analytics so you can see if your mass text campaigns are performing.

Who can use a mass text messaging app?

Many users just need an app for personal group texting. However, business text messaging goes beyond sending and receiving SMS texts. Here’s how texting brings value to several industries.

Restaurants

Leaders in the food industry use mass text message apps to take reservations, send coupons, and inform customers about weekly specials.

Real estate agents

Top-performing real estate agents use SMS messages for lead generation. How? They create a keyword and place it on their riders. Interested buyers can text in this keyword to request more information!

Retailers and e-commerce stores

Retailers who need to drive more sales rely on texts to engage customers and move products. They do this by creating customer loyalty programs and offering exclusive discounts by SMS.

Schools

Text messages facilitate communication between schools, parents, and students. The best mass texting services make it easy to send important school alerts or host fundraisers.

Churches

Successful churches find inspiring ways to connect with their congregations. Texts allow ministries to send inspirational and devotional texts, including information about upcoming events.

These are just a few of the industries that use text messaging. Read our in-depth industry guides and handbooks to learn how mass text apps can make your message heard.

7 must-have mass texting app features

Every mass text app can send SMS messages to large groups of people at once. If you’re using text messaging for your business or organization, you probably want an app that does beyond mass texting.

Before you sign up for a texting service, make sure it can deliver to multiple recipients and has the following features:

Scheduled texts and autoresponders

Sometimes you don’t want to send a text right away. Scheduled texts let you specify a future date and time for your SMS. And with autoresponders, you can set up group texts that go out at a set period of time after someone joins your list.

Keywords

Before sending a bulk text message, you need contacts. Keywords help with that. Simply set up a word or phrase that customers can text to your number to subscribe to your SMS texts.

Lists and segments

Lists and dynamic segments let you organize your contacts and send the right messages to the right people. 

MMS messaging

A good mass text messaging app lets you send more than just SMS texts. MMS allows you to include photos, videos and other files in your messages.

Link tracking and analytics

You shouldn’t be guessing if your SMS campaigns are working. Link tracking and easy-to-understand analytics let you know if your mass text messaging app is bringing value to your business.

Custom fields

Texting should feel personal. The best mass texting service gives users the ability to include Custom Fields such as first name and last name when sending messages.

Number options

Depending on how you plan to use SMS, for mass or one-on-one messaging, you’ll want the option of selecting a phone number to fit your needs. For example, a standard 10-digit number or a memorable dedicated short code unique to your business.Use the features above as a rule of thumb to assess mass texting apps that make the cut. In some instances, you may need fewer features, and in others, you may need more. Check out everything you can do with our mass text messaging app here.

Mass text campaign examples

We’ve covered the how, the why, and the who. Now let’s review some real-life examples of companies who have seen success with a mass text message app.

All of the customers below used SimpleTexting (yes, that’s us.) You can download our app for free on the App Store or Google Play.

Delta Sonic car wash

Delta Sonic is one of the largest car wash and convenience store chains in the U.S.

They use a mass text message app to communicate with thousands of customers every week. During slow seasons, they send out text blasts about promotions and services. Their text club was so well received by customers that they grew their list from zero to tens of thousands of subscribers in just a few years.

Get all the details about how Delta Sonic uses SMS.

Honey + Thyme food delivery

Honey + Thyme is changing the way people think about food delivery services.

Their menu highlights local, in-season ingredients and changes every week. Text messages help them keep customers up-to-date on the latest items that are available to order. Read more about how they drive orders with text messages.

South Arkansas Community College

As we explained in this article, a mass text message app should do more than just send messages to lists of people.

South Arkansas Community College uses the 2-way messaging feature of SimpleTexting to connect with current and prospective students. Check out their success story to see how they use texts for recruitment and organizing campus tours.

Mass texting app FAQs

Download the best mass text message app

After working together with thousands of customers, including Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, we’ve learned exactly what makes a text message app the best.

We’re confident in our app, which is why we let anyone try it completely free for 14 days. No credit card needed.

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Whether you’re a small business owner looking to refine your marketing tactics or a marketer seeking the latest industry insights, this report offers valuable perspectives and actionable strategies to help you thrive in 2024’s fast-paced market. 

Key small business marketing statistics

• The three most influential marketing tactics for small businesses are online reviews, word-of-mouth referrals, and influencer endorsements.
• The five most influential marketing channels for small business growth are their websites, Facebook, review sites (e.g., Google Business), TikTok, and Instagram.
• Small businesses with a marketing plan are 6.7 times more likely to report marketing success than those without a plan. 
• Small businesses that blend in-house marketing with external professional services report 2.5 times more marketing success than those relying exclusively on in-house efforts.
• 63% of small businesses plan to increase their marketing budget over the next year. The sectors most likely to boost spending are technology (80%), human resources (80%), and finance (76%). 
• Most small businesses allocate 6-10% of their budget to marketing. Small businesses that invest more in marketing report greater marketing success.
• The biggest marketing challenges for small businesses are limited budget, time constraints, and finding the right marketing channels.
• Over half of small businesses (59%) are incorporating AI into their marketing strategies, and 75% are incorporating customer feedback into their marketing strategies. 
• 72% of consumers prefer to buy products from small businesses over larger enterprises.
• 44% of consumers have intentionally increased their shopping at small businesses in the past year.
• Most consumers prefer to receive marketing communications from small businesses through email, social media, and text. 
• Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok rank as the top four social platforms where consumers are most responsive to marketing messages from small businesses.
• 64% of consumers say that online reviews impacted their decision to support small businesses in the past year.

Business insights

What are the most influential marketing tactics and channels for small businesses?

Digital marketing channels continue to dominate as the key drivers of growth. Small business owners say their five most influential marketing channels are their websites, Facebook, review sites (e.g. Google Business), TikTok, and Instagram. 

44% identified their website as the most influential marketing channel, underscoring the importance of a strong online presence.

Facebook follows closely at 38%, highlighting its enduring appeal for business engagement and customer interaction.

TikTok is listed as the fourth most important marketing channel for small businesses aiming to reach broader, younger audiences. This is particularly notable given the ongoing discussions around a potential nationwide TikTok ban, which could impact small businesses that heavily rely on the platform for its extensive reach and influencer endorsements.

Certain digital marketing channels are underused by small businesses. Despite the potential of search engine marketing (SEM) to drive targeted traffic, only 28% of small businesses are currently using this channel.

Similarly, just 23% are leveraging a blog to engage audiences and boost their content marketing efforts, missing out on opportunities to build authority and connect with customers. 

Finally, while most businesses cite their website as their most influential marketing tool, only 17% of small businesses use search engine optimization (SEO) to improve their online visibility; thus, many aren’t fully harnessing the benefits of organic search, which could lead to increased web traffic and higher conversion rates. 

Small business owners say their three most influential marketing tactics are reviews (e.g., Google reviews), word-of-mouth referrals, and influencers/endorsements.

Reviews (e.g. on Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc.) are the most influential marketing tactic for small business owners, yet only 43.5% of businesses actively seek to influence these reviews. This gap presents a substantial growth opportunity for small businesses. By proactively managing and encouraging customer reviews, small businesses can enhance their online reputation, build trust, and attract new customers.

Recommended reading: How to ask customers for reviews: 11 tactics with real-life examples

Influencers/endorsements are the third-most influential marketing tactic. On TikTok, collaborating with influencers who match the brand’s values can generate engaging, viral content that appeals to a younger audience, boosting visibility and brand awareness. 

Similarly, Instagram provides a robust platform for influencer partnerships through short-form video content like Stories, IGTV, and Reels, which can enhance real-time engagement and capitalize on trending content. Small businesses can tap into established follower bases by partnering with influencers on these platforms, significantly extending their reach. 

How many employees are dedicated to marketing in small businesses?

The size of the marketing team within small businesses plays a crucial role in marketing success. Most small businesses surveyed have three to five marketing employees. Those with larger marketing teams exhibit significantly higher confidence in achieving a positive return on investment (ROI). 

A notable 75% of businesses with 10 or more marketing employees are confident in their positive marketing ROI, in stark contrast to only 30% of businesses with a single marketing employee and a mere 6% of those without any dedicated marketing staff.

Are small businesses keeping their marketing efforts internal or external?

When it comes to keeping marketing in-house or external, small businesses are adopting a hybrid approach.

Most small businesses (42%) blend in-house marketing efforts with external professional services (e.g., agencies). This mixed strategy is proving highly effective, as businesses employing both methods are 2.5 times more likely to report marketing success compared to those relying solely on in-house teams. Small businesses can drive better results by leveraging the strengths of internal expertise alongside the specialized skills of third-party professionals. 

To what extent are small businesses prioritizing their online presence?

Most small businesses (35%) rate their online presence as excellent, 31% as good, and 19% as average. Small businesses with an excellent online presence are significantly more confident in their marketing ROI, with 56% expressing high confidence compared to just 1% of those with a poor online presence. 

The correlation between a strong online presence and sales impact is equally compelling.
57% of small businesses with an excellent online presence say that their marketing efforts have a very significant impact on sales. Only 2% of small businesses with a poor online presence share this sentiment.

How are small businesses leveraging local marketing?

The three most common ways small businesses are using local marketing is through social media to engage their local communities, participating in community events, sponsorships, and networking with local businesses and influencers. Despite these efforts, only 19% are using local SEO and Google My Business to enhance their local visibility. 

This presents a significant opportunity for improvement. By optimizing local search strategies and managing Google My Business profiles, small businesses can greatly enhance their discoverability and attract more local customers.

What portion of small businesses’ budgets is dedicated to marketing in 2024?

The majority of small businesses (44%) allocate 6-10% of their overall budget to marketing. What’s more, the correlation between higher marketing investment and better outcomes is clear. 48% of small businesses that dedicate 6-10% of their overall budget to marketing report success in their efforts. In contrast, only 11% of small businesses that spend less than 5% of their budget on marketing achieve similar results. 

Looking ahead, 63% of small businesses plan to increase their marketing budgets over the next year, with technology, human resources, and finance sectors leading this trend. A striking 80% of businesses in both the technology and human resources sectors, along with 76% in finance, are gearing up to boost their marketing expenditures over the next 12 months.

How many small businesses have a marketing plan?

75% of small businesses have a marketing plan, while 25% do not. Having a structured plan significantly boosts success rates. Small businesses with a marketing plan are 6.7 times more likely to report marketing success than those without a plan. 

Specifically, 87% of small businesses with a marketing plan report successful marketing outcomes, in stark contrast to the mere 13% success rate among those without a plan. This data underscores the critical importance of strategic planning in marketing, highlighting how a well-defined roadmap can enhance a small business’s ability to achieve its goals and drive growth. 

A good marketing plan usually includes clear objectives, a detailed analysis of the target market, competitive research, and a mix of marketing tactics tailored to the business’s unique strengths. It also outlines specific strategies for digital and traditional marketing channels, a content calendar, budget allocations, and metrics for measuring success.

How often do small businesses incorporate customer feedback into their marketing strategy?

In today’s customer-centric market, the integration of customer feedback into marketing strategies is proving to be a game-changer for small businesses. 75% of small businesses incorporate customer feedback into their marketing strategy either always or frequently. 

This practice is not just beneficial; it’s a clear differentiator in driving marketing success. 49% of small businesses that consistently integrate customer feedback into their marketing strategies report achieving marketing success. This contrasts sharply with the mere 1% success rate among businesses that neglect to incorporate customer feedback. These findings highlight the powerful impact of listening to customers. 

Small businesses can collect customer feedback through online surveys, social media polls, and direct customer interviews. Using feedback forms on websites and review platforms can also provide valuable insights to refine marketing strategies.

What are the biggest marketing trends for small business owners in 2024?

According to business owners, the biggest small business marketing trends in 2024 will be AI and machine learning, social commerce, ethical marketing/sustainability, and short-form video content. 

AI can help small businesses analyze data, personalize customer experiences, and optimize marketing campaigns. Our survey found that over half of small businesses (59%) are incorporating AI into their marketing strategy. What’s more, small businesses that incorporate AI into their marketing strategy are 5.7 times more likely to report greater marketing success compared to those that do not. On our small business podcast, we frequently offer suggestions to small businesses on how they can leverage AI.

Social commerce allows small businesses to turn social media engagement into seamless shopping experiences, boosting sales directly on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on ethical marketing and sustainability, as businesses recognize the importance of aligning with consumer values around environmental and social responsibility.

What are the biggest marketing challenges for small businesses?

The most common marketing challenges for small businesses are limited budget, time constraints, and finding the right marketing channels. These hurdles are especially pronounced for small business owners, who often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, making efficient time management critical yet challenging.

Budget limitations further compound these difficulties, restricting the ability to invest in marketing strategies and cutting-edge tools that larger competitors might easily afford. Additionally, small business owners must continually adapt and identify the most effective marketing channels, a task that can be both time-consuming and complex.

Consumer insights

How often are consumers buying from small businesses?

72% of consumers prefer to buy products from small businesses over larger enterprises. The largest share of consumers (48%) shop with small businesses monthly, followed by 28% who shop with them weekly. These figures underscore a growing loyalty and preference for the personalized touch and unique offerings that small businesses provide.

When we look at specific demographics, men surprisingly shop with small businesses more frequently than women. Further, Gen Xers and millennials lead the charge, shopping with small businesses more frequently than both Gen Zers and baby boomers. This could reflect a combination of economic values, a desire for unique products, and a greater emphasis on supporting local economies that resonate more strongly with these generations.

Overall, the largest share of consumers (38%) discover new small businesses by word of mouth, followed by 31% of consumers who discover new small businesses on social media. 

Gen Zers are most likely to find new small businesses to shop with through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, whereas other generations primarily rely on word-of-mouth referrals. 

Why do consumers decide to shop small?

44% of consumers have intentionally increased their shopping at small businesses in the past year. Consumers cite product uniqueness, support for local economies, and convenient locations as the top three factors influencing their decision to shop at small businesses. Unlike the mass-produced items found in large retail chains, small businesses often provide one-of-a-kind products that resonate with consumers’ desires for individuality and distinctiveness. 

What’s more, there’s a growing awareness of the positive impact that shopping locally can have on communities, from creating jobs to fostering economic resilience. This sense of local pride and community support is compelling more consumers to choose small businesses, seeing their purchases as investments in their own neighborhoods.

Consumers prioritize product quality significantly higher than price when shopping at small businesses. A substantial 50% of customers cite product quality as their primary concern, overshadowing the 28% who focus on price and the 9% who value customer service most. Customers often associate small businesses with a higher level of care and authenticity in their offerings, leading to a greater willingness to pay a premium for products that stand out in terms of durability and design.

Which marketing channels do consumers prefer for engaging with small businesses?

Understanding consumer communication preferences is crucial for small business marketers. The majority of consumers (38%) prefer receiving marketing communications from small businesses through email, while 34% favor social media as their preferred channel. 

A generational divide is evident in these preferences. Gen Zers, known for their digital savviness, overwhelmingly favor social media platforms for marketing interactions with small businesses, whereas older generations lean towards the more traditional channel of email. Notably, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have emerged as the top four social platforms where consumers are most receptive to marketing messages from small businesses.

What consumers of all ages can agree on is that small businesses need to have a strong online presence. 64% of consumers across the board say it’s either important or very important that small businesses have a strong online presence to attract and retain customers. 

What types of marketing messages from small businesses most resonate with consumers?

Consumers overwhelmingly indicated that they are most likely to engage with marketing messages from small businesses that feature discounts and promotions (81%). This strong preference underscores the universal appeal of savings and special offers, effectively capturing consumer attention and driving engagement.

Following this, 40.7% of consumers are drawn to new product announcements, while 37.1% are interested in customer testimonials and stories, which add a personal touch and build trust. These insights suggest that a multi-faceted marketing approach, balancing promotional content with informative and engaging narratives, can resonate with a broad audience.

From which industries are consumers most likely to support a small business?

Consumers are most likely to support small businesses in the food and beverage industry (81.3%) –– e.g., local restaurants, coffee shops, and specialty food stores. This preference highlights the strong community connection and daily necessity of these establishments, making them a top choice for local support. Following closely are local retail stores (60.5%) for clothing or accessories, and services (59.3%) –– e.g., vets, cleaning, plumbing, repair, tailoring, and landscaping, among others. 

How do online reviews influence consumer purchases with small businesses?

54% of consumers have left a review for a small business online at least once in their lifetime, and 64% of consumers say that online reviews impacted their decision to support small businesses in the past year. In an increasingly digital marketplace, positive reviews on Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other platforms can significantly enhance a small business’s reputation and attract a wider customer base.

How does AI influence consumer purchases with small businesses?

While AI is revolutionizing various industries, only 27% of consumers say they’re more likely to shop from small businesses that use AI in their operations (73% are not). This suggests that balancing technological advancements with human-centric experiences could be key for small businesses to enhance their appeal.

Survey insights reveal that most consumers (39%) are more inclined to support small businesses using AI to streamline checkout processes and bolster payment security, underscoring the value placed on efficiency and safety. 

Additionally, 33% appreciate AI’s ability to personalize their shopping experience, while AI-driven scheduling for appointments and reservations appeals to 28% of consumers.

Despite the advantages of AI, consumers express notable reservations about its integration into small businesses. Privacy concerns top the list, with 47% worried about data usage by AI systems. 

Further, 45% are hesitant if AI adoption leads to higher product or service prices, while 44% are concerned about AI replacing human jobs. These insights highlight the importance of addressing privacy, cost, and personalization to alleviate consumer apprehensions regarding AI technology in small businesses.

The future of small business marketing

Small business marketing in 2024 is defined by a blend of digital engagement, technological innovation, and consumer-centric strategies. The study shows that having a strong online presence is non-negotiable, with websites, review platforms, and social media giants like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram leading the way. To stay ahead, small businesses should tap into underused channels like search engine marketing and SEO to boost their online game.

Consumers are craving unique products and personalized experiences, putting quality over everything else. AI offers a big win for enhancing efficiency and personalization, but businesses need to tackle concerns about privacy, costs, and job impacts head-on. 

The secret sauce for 2024? Blend tech-savvy strategies with the authentic, community-focused charm that small businesses are known for.

The statistics in this report are derived from two separate surveys. We surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers across a range of demographics and geographic regions, and 400 U.S. small business owners and marketing managers across a range of industries from March 12th to 14th, 2024.

The post The state of small business marketing in 2024 appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

Outlook to SMS is particularly valuable for businesses looking to communicate with employees who need to send timely updates directly to colleagues’ mobile devices.

While Outlook to SMS has many practical benefits for workplace communication, it also offers personal advantages. It allows users to archive text messages in their email inbox, reducing clutter on their phones, and provides the convenience of sending texts directly from a computer.

This is especially useful in situations where accessing a phone isn’t possible or when direct communication is necessary.

Read to learn how to send SMS from Outlook.

Disclaimer: Please note that this advice is for informational purposes only and is neither intended as nor should be substituted for consultation with appropriate legal counsel and/or your organization’s regulatory compliance team.

What is Outlook to SMS?

Outlook to SMS refers to the capability of Microsoft Outlook to send text messages (SMS) directly from within the application.

This feature allows users to compose and send SMS messages to mobile phone numbers from their Outlook email client, making it a convenient way to communicate with contacts who prefer or require text messaging.

It is often used in professional settings for quick and efficient communication with colleagues and clients.

How to send SMS from Outlook

Sending text messages directly from Microsoft Outlook is a convenient way to streamline your communications. By following these steps, you can ensure your messages reach their recipients efficiently:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Click on “New Email” to create a new email message.
3. Type your message in the email body as you would for a regular email. It must be less than 160 characters to be SMS.
4. Locate your recipient’s phone number, determine their wireless carrier, and input that information into the “To” section (see steps below for details).
5. Optional: If you haven’t added your Sender number to Outlook, click on the “From” field and select “Other Email Address.” In the “From” field, enter your mobile phone number, and Outlook will prompt you to verify it. If you don’t want to send from your phone number, Outlook will simply deliver the SMS from your email address, which is why this step is optional.
6. Click “Send” to send the email, which will be converted into an SMS and delivered to the recipient’s mobile phone.
7. The recipient will receive your message as a standard text message on their phone.

The outline above is a basic overview of sending SMS messages through Outlook. For a more comprehensive understanding, let’s explore each step in greater detail to ensure you have all the information needed for effective and accurate SMS communications:

Step 1: Obtain recipient’s phone number

Ensure you have the recipient’s 10-digit phone number. This number is essential for directing the text message correctly.

Step 2: Determine the recipient’s carrier information

Next, determine the recipient’s wireless carrier. You can use a service like FreeCarrierLookup to find out the carrier associated with a given phone number.

Step 3: Choose between SMS or MMS

Figure out what type of message you’re sending. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters, while MMS messages can include more text and rich media like images or videos.

Step 4: Find carrier gateway email address

Based on whether you’re sending an SMS or MMS, find the appropriate carrier gateway email address.

Here is a list of many carriers’ SMS and MMS email gateways for SMS and MMS from SimpleTexting’s parent company, Sinch.

Additionally, here is a quick table of some of the most common carrier gateway email addresses:

Step 4: Create the phone number email address

Create the email address using the recipient’s 10-digit phone number and the gateway address.

For example, for a Verizon number, it would look like 1234567890@vtext.com to send an SMS.

Next, enter the phone number email address you created in the “To” field of a new Outlook email.

Step 5: Compose and send your message

Write your message in the body field of the email. If you prefer to avoid adding content to the subject line, you can leave it empty to prevent awkward formatting in the text message.

After that, you’re ready to finally hit send. Your message will be delivered to the recipient’s phone as a text message, appearing as sent from your Outlook email address.

A simpler way to send SMS from your business

If you just read all those steps, you might be wondering if there’s a better way to text people from your business.

There is.

SimpleTexting is business texting software. People use it for SMS marketing, communicating with team members, recruiting and hiring, customer service and sales use cases, and a whole lot more.

An actual business texting service makes sending a text to a single person a lot easier than all those steps with Outlook to SMS. Plus, a service like SimpleTexting helps you send group messages and mass texts much more efficiently.

With SimpleTexting, all you’ll need are the recipients’ phone numbers and their permission to text them.

That’s it.

No hoops to jump through to determine what phone numbers belong to what carriers, whether your message is SMS or MMS, what the carrier gateway addresses are for every recipient… etc.

See for yourself. Try SimpleTexting and send a text to yourself today to see how it works.

Why Choose SimpleTexting for text messaging instead of Outlook?

SimpleTexting offers an intuitive, feature-rich platform for sending SMS. Our service makes your communication smoother, more reliable, and more impactful. 

With advanced features and tools, our platform elevates your messaging experience, ensuring that your texts reach their destination and make the desired impact. 

Here’s a glimpse into the powerful features that set us apart:

• 24/7 Support: Our team is ready to help you seven days a week to reach your audiences.
  
• Automated SMS: Schedule messages hours, days, or months in advance then sit back, and relax. We’ll do the rest.
  
• SMS Templates & Duplicates: Save time by reusing your frequently sent messages, campaigns, inbox replies, autoresponders, and keyword confirmation messages.
  
• AI Assist: Streamline your messages with our SimpleTexting AI Assist, a powerful copywriting tool that helps you send more effective text messages.
  
• Self-Cleaning Lists: Our system automatically checks for dead numbers every time you send a message and removes them when they’re spotted. No need for you to constantly monitor!

Learn more about our capabilities to see how we can help you.

Get started with SimpleTexting today

SimpleTexting provides a seamless, effective, and innovative solution sending text messages from your business.

From small businesses looking to enhance their marketing strategies and larger enterprises aiming to improve internal communications to individuals seeking more efficient ways to connect, SimpleTexting caters to all your needs. 

With user-friendly features like 24/7 customer support, message scheduling, link tracking and shortening, and an API, SimpleTexting elevates your communication experience. Embrace the power of efficient texting and make every message count with SimpleTexting.

Ready to transform your communication strategy? Sign up today for a free trial and discover the full potential of SMS with SimpleTexting. Or, for a more personalized experience, book a call with our experts. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.

The post How to send SMS from an Outlook email address [step-by-step] appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

Here, we’ll walk you through how to identify spam texts, put up digital barriers to block them, report them to the authorities, and adopt best practices to prevent them.

Understanding spam text messages

Have you ever received a text message from an unknown number promising a too-good-to-be-true deal or urgently asking for personal information? These are spam text messages, the digital equivalent of a pesky mosquito buzzing in your ear.

Spam texts are to regular texts what junk mail is to your treasured snail mail. Spam texts are unsolicited messages sent in bulk, typically with the intent of deceiving the receiver. Unlike genuine marketing SMS, which requires opt-in consent from text message recipients, spam texts are uninvited.

Legitimate marketing texts play by a set of rules. These messages must comply with regulations like the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act), ensuring they respect your space and only show up if you agree to invite them in.

So, what constitutes a spam message? Here are some common characteristics:

1. Unsolicited nature: If you never signed up to receive messages from ‘Great Deals Galore,’ but they keep texting you, that’s spam. If you reply STOP and you keep getting texts from the same number (aside from a single opt-out confirmation message), that’s spam, too.
2. Deceptive content: Messages that try to mislead you, like promising a free vacation (only if you provide your credit card details), are spammy by nature.
3. Pushy and urgent tone: Texts that demand immediate action, especially involving personal information or financial details, often fall into the spam category.
4. Unknown or suspicious sender: If the message is from a number that looks like it was mashed on a keyboard, chances are, it’s spam.

How to identify spam texts

While they may appear harmless at first glance, spam texts often carry tell-tale signs. Spotting these signs is key to keeping your personal information safe.

First off, if a text message feels like it came out of the blue, offering extravagant rewards (think: “Congratulations! You’ve won a free yacht!”) or urgent requests for personal information (“Urgent: Update your banking details now!”), your spam alert should go off. 

Links to suspicious websites are another red flag, especially those that look like a jumble of letters and numbers trying to pass off as a legitimate URL. Keep an eye out for how that link changes domains, too. If one link forwards through several others, that is a sign of spam.

For example, you receive a text saying, “You’ve won $1,000,000 in the Global Lottery! Click here to claim your prize.” Or, “Your device is at risk! Download this app now to protect it.” These are prime examples of spam texts, often leading to phishing scams or malware downloads.

Here’s the golden rule: Do not engage. Replying, clicking on links, or calling the numbers in these messages is like opening the door to a world of headaches. It confirms to the spammers that your number is active, potentially leading to more unwanted messages.

How to block spam texts

After identifying a spam text, it’s time to play defense by blocking text messages from unwanted senders. Most smartphones come equipped with a built-in feature to block pesky numbers. And for an extra layer of protection, you can even consider third-party apps or carrier services that specialize in slamming the door on spam. These methods are pretty effective at keeping unwanted texts at bay.

How to stop spam texts on iOS 

Got an iPhone? Here’s how to block messages through the iMessage app and set up your first layer of defense against spam texts:

• Open Messages and tap “Edit” and tap “Select Messages”.
• Select the conversation containing the text you want to block.
• Tap “Delete” then select “Delete and Report Junk”.

How to stop spam texts on Android

For Android users, the process is equally straightforward. Here’s how to block spam texts directly from your Android device:

• From the text conversation screen, click on the contact or number above the conversation.
• Select the three dots at the top right of the screen, where you’ll see the “Block numbers” option.
• Click “Block” on the popup.
• To see lists of your blocked contacts, just head to the Contacts app, click “Fix & manage,” and select “Blocked numbers.”

How to report spam texts

When you report a spam text, you’re shining a light on spamming activities, which can lead to action against the spammers and a safer digital environment for everyone.

So, where can you send your digital SOS? 

Agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are the cyber police in this scenario. Filing a complaint with them is easy – you can file a complaint with the FTC here or lodge one with the FCC here. 

Another handy trick is forwarding the spam text to 7726 (SPAM). It’s like dropping a pin on the spammer’s location for the cellular authorities, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), to investigate.

How to prevent text spam

Prevention is better than cure, especially when it comes to spam texts. Keep your phone number under wraps and share it sparingly online or offline. 

Also, don’t forget to regularly check your privacy settings. Are they too lenient, rolling out the red carpet for spammers? Tighten them up. Lastly, team up with a reputable text messaging service – they can be your knights in shining armor, warding off spammy dragons.

Read on for more tips on preventing spam texts.

Using spam filters 

Spam filters scrutinize incoming messages and filter out unwanted ones based on certain criteria, and setting them up is usually a breeze.

Whether it’s on your phone or through your carrier’s services, a few taps or clicks can activate these digital guardians. While they might not catch every rogue message, they’re pretty good at keeping your inbox clean and stress-free.

Avoiding opt-in mistakes 

Dodging spam texts sometimes feels like tiptoeing through a minefield of opt-in traps. The trick is to stay vigilant. Double-check what you’re signing up for – those check boxes at the bottom of forms aren’t just for decoration. 

Also, be wary of ‘free’ offers that ask for your number; they often come with a hidden subscription to a never-ending stream of texts. Reading the fine print might be a chore, but it’s a small price to pay to keep your inbox spam-free.

Conclusion 

When it comes to warding off spam, knowledge is your strongest weapon. These unwanted messages are more than just a nuisance; they can threaten your privacy and security. Remember, each step you take to fight spam protects your personal information and contributes to the broader effort against spammers and scammers. 

And if you’re looking for a hassle-free way to communicate with your customers without the spammy drama, SimpleTexting is your go-to solution. Our platform ensures a spam-free experience, allowing you to connect with your audience in a TCPA-compliant fashion.

The post How to stop getting spam texts appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

If this leaves you in the position of having to build your text list from scratch, don’t panic. You’re not alone. We’ve seen thousands of businesses go from zero subscribers to a profitable, engaged text message mailing list. 

In this article, we’ve compiled the most popular tactics to collect phone numbers for SMS marketing. 

28 text list building tactics:

1. Create a text-to-join keyword
2. Use a click-to-text message link
3. Leverage QR codes
4. Use a click-to-subscribe popup
5. Try an SMS signup form
6. Add a phone number field to existing web forms
7. Update paper forms or sign-in sheets
8. Add opt-in during ecommerce checkout
9. Add a sign at your checkout counter
10. Add a text-to-subscribe keyword to receipts or invoices
11. Host a text-to-win giveaway
12. Conduct a text-to-vote poll
13. Offer text-based customer service
14. Start a “text for help” hotline
15. Promote your keyword on social media
16. Turn your email list into a text list
17. Update your email signature
18. Add texting to your business cards
19. Add a call to action to your voicemail
20. Include text opt-in print advertisements
21. Drop off fliers at partner or sponsor locations
22. Add keywords to your product packaging
23. Send a postcard with a text call to action
24. Leverage employee uniforms
25. Advertise your phone number on company vehicles
26. Offer an educational series through text
27. Start a birthday text club
28. Leverage your next event as a list-building engine

First, decide on an incentive to offer your text list

People are protective over their phone numbers. You need to offer something of value in order for someone to opt-in to your text list. This could be:

• Exclusive discounts
• Early access to sales 
• First dibs on new products
• Educational tips
• Behind-the-scenes content 
• Contest entries
• Free samples

The first step to collecting phone numbers for SMS marketing is to decide on an incentive. If you’re feeling stuck, keep it simple and offer a discount.

Next, try these tried-and-true tactics to collect phone numbers for SMS marketing:

1. Create a text-to-join keyword

In SMS marketing, a keyword is a word or phrase that people can text to your number to opt-in to your text message mailing list. It’s the foundation for many of the ideas below. So, make this your first move.

How to set up a text-to-join service to collect more contacts

2. Use a click-to-text message link

You can create a link that when clicked opens a person’s native message inbox with a pre-filled text message. These click-to-text message links are great for embedding in emails, blog posts, pop-ups, and other digital content you share with your audience. Note: These work when someone taps them on their mobile device.

3. Leverage QR codes for easy opt-in

QR codes can do more than direct users to a URL. Use a free QR code generator to create a QR code that opens the user’s native texting app when scanned. You can have it auto-populate the message field with your text-to-join keyword.

Add this QR code to your website, in-store signage, product packaging, and anywhere else your customers may see it.

QR code to text message: How to help your audience opt-in to receive SMS messages

4. Add a click-to-subscribe popup to your website

We built a free tool that lets you design a custom button that sits in the corner of your website. When a user clicks it, it launches a pop-up with more info about your text message marketing list. With one more click, the texting app on their phone will open with your text-to-join keyword pre-filled in.

5. Put an SMS signup form on your website

You can help any web visitor to become an SMS subscriber with a simple form that invites them to share their phone number. We make it easy to input a custom form onto your website, just copy and paste this code we pre-made for you!

Once your sign-up form is up it’ll work for you 24/7 capturing new leads at every chance.

6. Add a phone number field to your existing web forms

Already have a contact form on your site? Add a phone number field, along with a checkbox for contacts to opt-in. Be sure to include compliant SMS opt-in language. Remember, that checkbox is crucial for staying above board with texting regulations.

7. Update any paper forms or sign-in sheets

If you’re still using traditional paper forms, add a space for customers to provide their phone numbers to join your text list. If there is already a phone number field, add a checkbox for them to opt-in to receive SMS marketing messages.

8. Add opt-in during the e-commerce checkout process

You may be already collecting phone numbers for shipping notifications but remember that those are transactional messages. If someone agrees to transactional messages, that doesn’t grant you permission to add them to an SMS marketing list.

(Read more about the difference between promotional and transactional texts.) Add a checkbox with TCPA-approved language for users to opt into your text marketing list. You can then use Zapier to sync your contacts with SimpleTexting.

9. Add a table tent or sign at your checkout counter

In-store foot traffic presents a great opportunity to grow your text marketing list, too. A simple idea is to include a table tent on your checkout counter. A basic flier with your number, keyword, and description of your text marketing service should catch customers’ eyes as they make their purchases.

Be sure each table tent has a clear CTA so people can take action and subscribe on the spot.

10. Add your text-to-join keyword on invoices or receipts

Empty space at the bottom of receipts or invoices is valuable real estate. Add a call-to-action like, “Save 10% on your next purchase by joining our text message list.”

11. Host a text-to-win giveaway

Advertise a giveaway where customers must text a keyword to your phone number to enter. Promote the contest on social media, in-store signage, or through your email list. Here’s a video on how to set up an SMS sweepstakes in SimpleTexting.

12. Conduct a text-to-vote poll

With text-to-vote, contacts will automatically be prompted with multiple questions after texting in your keyword. This is an easy way to engage your customers and gather their opinions while building your text message marketing list.

See how Postino grew its text list with a clever text-to-vote poll.

13. Offer text-based customer service options

Utilize tools like click-to-text buttons, allowing customers to text you directly with questions. Text-based customer service provides a threaded conversation record and eliminates the need for customers to be on hold.

14. Create a “text for help” hotline

Every business has an expert in something. If you’re a cosmetics company, you likely know a lot about skincare. If you’re a BBQ sauce company, you likely know a lot about grilling. Advertise a “text for help” hotline where customers can text in a keyword to be connected with an expert. SimpleTexting offers two-way texting so you can easily have 1-on-1 conversations with customers.

15. Promote your keyword on social media

Create a post, story, or short video announcing updates and discounts for members. Add THE necessary disclaimers to comply with TCPA. Your biggest fans want to hear from you. They don’t want to miss your posts or have your emails get sent to spam. They’ll be excited to be part of your SMS mailing list and be confident they’re informed about your latest offers.

16. Turn your email list into a text list

Your existing email list is low-hanging fruit. Send your subscribers an email introducing your text message marketing list, complete with incentives like discounts or early access to deals.

Include a call-to-action prompting them to either text a keyword to your number or sign up through a form on your website.

17. Update your email signature

Add a text opt-in link to your email signature. If your company sends many emails or provides customer support via email, include a line in the signature promoting your text club and linking to an opt-in form.

18. Add texting to your business cards

In addition to listing your phone number and email address on your business card, include a QR code recipients can scan or a keyword they can text in to subscribe to your SMS messages.

This will expand your reach from customers who are interested in calling or emailing you to those who’d rather text.

Don’t hand your business card to another potential lead without making sure your keyword is displayed there, too. You can even create a keyword and custom autoresponder for each employee!

19. Add a call to action to your voicemail

Include a message in your business’s voicemail, inviting callers to join your text list for faster updates or exclusive information.

20. Include text opt-in in print advertisements

If you use print media like newspapers or magazines, include your text-to-join information in these ads, targeting a broader audience including those not typically online.

21. Drop off fliers or cards at partner or sponsor locations

This is a tactic we’ve seen our own customers at Maker’s Collective, an artist and community event organizer, deploy with a lot of success. They include their email opt-in information on postcards they leave at local partner shops.

“Since our event is focused on local artists, it’s really effective to have postcards in local coffee shops and anywhere that will take a stack of postcards. That kind of grassroots method works well for our event.”

Lib Ramos

Maker’s Collective

22. Add inserts to your product packaging

If you sell physical products, consider including a sticker or small paper slip encouraging customers to join your text message marketing list. One common use case is to use a text-to-join keyword connected to an autoresponder that requests a product review.

23. Send a postcard with a text call to action

Direct mail may be an old-school tactic, but it’s highly effective when combined with SMS marketing. When I ran a small beekeeping company, I sent out postcards encouraging people to text us for a property assessment. It cost $590, but yielded a 21x return.

24. Leverage employee uniforms

If you run a brick-and-mortar business, take advantage of the real estate on the back of your employee’s uniforms. Print custom t-shirts with your shortcode and keyword.

25. Advertise your phone number on company vehicles

Display your phone number on company vehicles and invite people to text you. When parked outside homes or business locations, your fleet essentially becomes free advertising. As I mentioned in tip 7, don’t forget there is a difference between transactional and promotional messages. If you want to add customers to a text marketing list, you will need to include the relevant disclaimers.

Learn how Bin Blasters uses vehicle wraps to build their text mailing list.

26. Offer an educational series through text

This approach doesn’t require offering discounts but instead capitalizes on your expertise. For instance, if you run a lawn care business, send timely reminders about essential lawn maintenance tasks, like when to schedule lawn aeration.

Similarly, a pest control company could provide seasonal alerts for critical treatments, such as termite prevention. The beauty of this strategy lies in its simplicity and value. It costs you nothing but offers significant value to your subscribers.

27. Start a birthday text club

Advertise it and have customers sign up with your text-to-subscribe keyword. Use SimpleTexting’s birthday text app to automate the process of sending a discount to your SMS subscribers when their birthdays roll around.

28. Leverage your next event as a list-building engine

Maker’s Collective hosts Indie Craft Parade among other events. At a recent event, the organization hung a poster with a message, “Text MAP to…” to receive a digital map of the event texted right to their phone number.

They also asked attendees to sign up to receive text messages at check-in.

Listen to how Maker’s Collective did it in the first episode of the Shoestring podcast, brought to you by SimpleTexting. It’s on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Don’t forget about compliance

SMS marketing is regulated by the TCPA. Regardless of how you choose to get mobile numbers for marketing, you will need to follow promotional requirements. Your calls to action must be accompanied by a disclaimer such as:

You agree to receive automated promotional messages. This agreement isn’t a condition of any purchase. Terms and Privacy policy can be found at (link). You may receive up to 4 msgs/mo. Reply STOP to end or HELP for help.

This disclaimer must include the following:

• Business Name
• Program Name
• STOP Instructions
• HELP Instructions
• Frequency
• T&C/Privacy Policy Link
• Message and Data Rates May Apply

Ultimately, following these guidelines will help you build trust with your customers, lower your unsubscribe rate, and set you up for success with your text list-building efforts!

Disclaimer: Please note that this advice is for informational purposes only and is neither intended as nor should be substituted for consultation with appropriate legal counsel and/or your organization’s regulatory compliance team.

FAQs

The post How to build your text list: 28 ideas and examples we love appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

That’s a new finding derived from the original data in SimpleTexting’s State of Texting and SMS Marketing 2023 proprietary research study.

Exactly 400 unique businesses participated in this study, with data provided by 292 business owners and 108 marketing managers, all based in the United States. This sample was not derived from SimpleTexting’s customer or audience base but through a third-party provider.

P.S. Want a look at our latest data? Check out this year’s report.

In demand: Consumers want businesses to text them

Key finding: Businesses that text are 2.17 times more likely to report marketing success.

In 2021, 62% of consumers had subscribed to receive texts from at least one business. In 2023, 71% of customers have subscribed to receive texts from businesses.

That’s a 14% increase in adoption with more consumers who are:

1. Aware they can get text messages from businesses.
2. Willing to receive texts, with 52.6% wanting one every other week.

To summarize: The majority of your audience is likely open to getting text messages from your business.

Look, it’s always risky knowing where to invest your effort. And having worked in the marketing, sales, and customer service industries, I know how noisy it can be.

It seems like there’s always some new or innovative concept for social media, emails, ads, blog posts, business listings, reviews, chatbots, and the list goes on. These are all things you could do.

For your small business, the questions become:

• What should we do?
• What tactics will have the greatest impact on our business?
• What will provide the most value to our customers?

That’s why building on a channel you know your audience prefers can be a worthwhile investment.

Low risk: Texting is a low-risk, low-cost investment with high rewards

Key finding: 90.09% of businesses that text their customers report marketing success.

Let me rephrase that: Marketing is successful at 9 out of 10 businesses that leverage text messaging.

It sounds like texting is a sure bet for marketing success.

There are examples of businesses that have…

• Increased average order values by 3-4x
• Seen consistent paid conversion rates of 25%
• Improved response rates by 25-30%

…all with texting.

While there are varied reasons for the success behind these stories, there are several unique truths for business texting specifically.

With texting:

• Your audience is protected from spam. There are laws to prevent unwanted texts and easy methods for people to report spam, which means your texts have more impact than marketing tactics like randomly targeted ads.
• There’s no ever-changing algorithm to worry about — like with social media or organic search engine optimization (SEO).
• You own your contact list. And when you text your contacts, you can rest assured you’ll reach them (as long as your messages meet compliance requirements).

Texting starts as little as $29 a month. For the modest investment, texting can be an additional channel to support your marketing success.

Editor’s note: Keep in mind, this data is correlative. Businesses that report marketing success are highly likely to use texting as a component of their strategy, but texting is likely not the only marketing channel these businesses use.

Emerging: More businesses are texting in 2023

Key finding: 85.75% of businesses text customers in 2023. That’s a 56% increase since 2022.

The rate of business texting adoption has been increasing drastically over the past couple of years:

That’s a 31% adoption rate increase for text marketing from 2021 to 2022, and a 56% increase from 2022 to 2023. If you’re looking at that jump from 42% in 2021 to 86% in 2023, that’s a 105% adoption rate increase for business texting in just two years.

It makes sense. After all, 71% of consumers have already subscribed to receive text messages from businesses. It looks like more businesses are simply capitalizing on this trend.

Long story short: If you adopt texting for your business, you’re not the first. You’re among good company.

These stats also indicate that texting isn’t just for big businesses. The percentages couldn’t be this high if that were the case (more than 95% of all businesses in the U.S. are small businesses).

In fact, there is evidence to suggest that texting for small businesses is extremely lucrative. Most people (91%) prefer supporting small businesses when it’s convenient, according to a report sponsored by Zendesk (PDF).

To sum it up:

• Your customers want you to text them.
• Your competitors are taking advantage of the opportunity.
• If you’re a small business, you’ve got a leg up on the big dogs because your customers prefer to support you.
• You can use texting to engage your customers with minimal investment.
• Texting is convenient, which increases your chances of influencing profitable customer action for your small business.
• It’s highly likely you’ll be successful with text marketing.

Give business texting a test drive with a free trial from SimpleTexting.

The post Businesses that text are 217% more successful than those that don’t [2023 study] appeared first on SMS Marketing & Text Marketing Services – Try It For Free.

What are contact cards?

Contact cards are virtual business cards you can text to your audience. They’re also known as vCards — or VCR files — which contain rich media. 

Your contact card file can include:

• Image (e.g. logo or portrait), 
• Brand or person’s name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Website
• Address

When someone saves your contact card information to their device, your image and name will appear with all of your future text messages and phone calls from the phone number you shared.

Why should you text contact cards to your audience?

• Establish your professional brand: Foster professional relationships with your audience by providing branded information like your logo and name in an easily save-able format.
• Get recognized immediately: Engage your audience by helping them recognize your business and message at first glance.
• Make it easy to do business: Empower your audience to get in touch with you via quick access to important info like website, email address, and phone number.

How do contact cards work?

You can send contact cards via multimedia message service (MMS) texts. Contact cards work with inbox messages, campaigns, autoresponders, and text-to-join keywords.

You may set up one contact card per phone number. If you have multiple phone numbers, you can have one contact card for each number. In other words, accounts with multiple numbers may have multiple contact cards.

How to text a contact card

We recommend setting up a contact card to send automatically after a contact texts your text-to-join keyword. So that’s the example we’ll use to walk you through how to text a contact card, or vCard, to your audience.

First, let’s set up your contact card. In SimpleTexting, navigate to Settings and Numbers. In Number settings, hit Edit and fill out the Contact card information you’d like to share with your contacts. Hit Save.

Next, let’s set up your text-to-join keyword. In SimpleTexting, navigate to Keywords, type a Keyword name (for internal use only), and choose either an existing list or create a new one. Choose MMS as the type of message to send rich media like your contact card, then write your text message.

Here’s a template you can copy, paste, and modify:

Brand Name: Thank you for joining our text club! Don’t forget to save us to your contacts for exclusive updates.

Next, select the Add contact card icon and Save keyword. That’s it!

Here's more detailed how-to advice to set up contact cards with our help doc.

Professional recognition that gets more responses

79% of consumers have already signed up to receive text messages from businesses. Help your text messages stand out with professional contact cards from SimpleTexting.

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